Learning how to install laminate flooring is actually quite easy. Make sure that you know how much laminate flooring is required. To avoid problems, buy 20% more than what you need.
Required Tools and Materials
Caulking compound
Shoe molding
Tapping block
Crow bar
Spacers
Moisture barrier
Table saw
Step 1
Two days prior to the installation, open the laminate package. This gives the floor time to get used to the environment.
Step 2
Remove any furniture in the room. If there is some existing shoe molding, use a crow bar to take them off.
Step 3
Set the floor down. If there are no damaged pieces, you can proceed with the installation.
Step 4
Before you install laminate flooring, put moisture barrier on the flooring. Straighten out any wrinkles. Make sure that the foam is pulled tight on the walls. Ensure the foam does not overlap.
Step 5
Start putting the boards in place. Begin with the most conspicuous wall. There has to be 5/16 inch space between the wall and board. You can do this by utilizing the spacers. It’s important that the groove part of the board faces the wall.
Step 6
Link the next board. This will vary per product, so follow the instructions in the package to the letter. The boards can be snapped together using the tapping block. You can also use a rubber mallet.
Step 7
Keep connecting the boards until you get to the end of the row. In some cases you may have to slice the board. This can be sliced using a table saw or a jigsaw. Any type of saw will do.
Step 8
Start the next row next to the starting position. Keep repeating the process until the whole floor has been layered.
Step 9
Put the shoe molding on to conceal any spaces or gaps in the structure.
Step 10
If there are plenty of spaces and cracks, use a caulking compound. Make sure that the color is a lot like the one used for the floor. Once this is done, the installation process is finished.
Tips and Warnings
When taking measurements, make sure you account for the cut out portions. Have the extra pieces you bought ready in case you make mistakes.
When you install laminate flooring, it is important to spend as much time as possible in the planning. Before you put anything in place, set the pieces on the floor. This will give you an idea of what they look like.
